Built-in sound system for home



July 3, 1956 E. E. SHAFFER BUILT-IN SOUND SYSTEM FOR HOME Filed Feb. 21,1955 INVENTOR.

EDWARD .J/$r4/T[/Q BUILT-IN SOUND SYSTEM FOR HOME Edward E. Shaffer,Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Shatter Music Company, Columbus, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application February 21, 1955, Serial No. 489,723

7 Claims. (Cl. 181-31) The present invention relates to built-in soundsystems for homes and particularly to a novel apparatus for mountingremote speakers in wall structures.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel wallmounting means for a speaker which can be readily mounted toconventional wall structure and which provides a sturdy and accessiblemeans for retaining the speaker in position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novelmounting means for securing speakers to wall structures which mountingmeans, although of simple and inexpensive construction, provides anattractive junction between the speaker and the finish of the wallstructure.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a novel speaker mounting meansconstructed according to the present in vention;

Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with thesection being taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the speaker mounting means of thepresent invention and showing such mounting means secured to aconventional wall structure;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a built-in sound system of the type inwhich the speaker mounting means of the present invention can beutilized.

Referring next to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, a speakermounting constructed according to the present invention is indicatedgenerally at 20 with such mounting means being supported by a verticalwall member 22 and horizontal wall members 23 and 24. The mounting meansincludes a base member indicated generally at 26 and a cover memberindicated generally at 27. Cover member 27 which includes a grilledcentral portion 30 and which is adapted to support a speaker 32 by meansof a plurality of threaded fastenings 34 which extend through the covermember 27 and the mounting flange provided on the speaker.

Referring particularly to the base member 26, such member includes aflange 36 adapted to overlie the frame members of the wall. A pluralityof screws 38 serve to secure the base member 26 to such frame members.Base member 26 further includes an outwardly extending portion 40 whichadjoins a flange 41 that extends substantially parallel to the innerflange 36. The outwardly extending portion 40 includes an outer surface42 adapted to confront the edge of the finish 43 of the wall.

Referring again to the cover member 27, such member includes a centralportion 46 provided with a plurality of holes through which are extendedthe threaded fastenings 47 which extend inwardly and engage the flange41 of the base member 26. Hence it is seen that the cover I UnitedStates Patent member 27 and the speaker 32 supported thereby, can bereadily and removably secured to the base member 26.

The cover member 27 further includes an inwardly extending flange 50adapted to engage the outer surface of the finish 43 at a locationradially outwardly from the junction of the surface 42 with the edge ofthe finish 43.

As seen in Figure 3, speaker mounting means 20 is located on the wallstructure by securing the base member to the vertical structural member22 and the two horizontal structural members 23 and 24 whereby thespeaker 32 extends rearwardly within the wall structure. Only the coverportion 27 and the centrally disposed grilled portion 30 are exposed tothe interior of the room. As seen in Figure 3, a switch 55 is providedwith such switch being secured to one of vertical structural members ofthe wall at a convenient height.

Reference is next made to Figure 4 which schematically shows a pluralityof the speaker mounting means 20 connected with a central sound source57 such a radio or phonograph apparatus. Each of the speaker mountingmeans 20 supports a speaker 32 and can be located in a separate room, orat separate locations in a building, with each of such units beingprovided with an individual switch 55 and wires 59 and 60, which connectthe unit with a sound source remote from the unit and convenientlylocated in the building.

In operation, installation of the speaker mounting means 20 is made byfirst fastening the base member 26 to the rough structural members ofthe wall. The finish 43 is then secured to the structural members withsuch finish extending to the outer surface 42 on the base member 26. Thecover member 27, with the speaker 32, can then be secured to the basemember 26 without the necessity of drilling or in any way altering thefinish, since the threaded fastenings 47 need merely be screwed intoexposed preformed holes provided in the base member 26.

In summary, it is seen that the present invention provides novel speakermounting means, of simple and inexpensive construction, which is notonly readily attachable to conventional wall structures, but whichsupports a speaker in a sturdy and accessible manner.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow:

I claim:

1. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mountingremote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a base memberincluding a surface adapted to engage the framing members of the walland a second surface extended outwardly to confront the edge of thefinish of the wall; fastening means for securing said base member to theframing members; a cover member overlying said base member, said covermember including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finish of thewall beyond the junction of said second surface and the edge of saidfinish; and fastening means for securing said cover member to said basemember.

2. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mountingremote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a base memberincluding an open central portion and a surface adapted to engage theframing members of the Wall and a second surface extended outwardly toconfront the edge of the finish of the Wall; fastening means forsecuring said base member to the framing members; a cover member havinga centrally disposed grill means and overlying said base member, saidcover member including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finishof the wall beyond the junction of said second surface and the edge ofsaid finish; mounting means on one of said members for securing aspeaker thereto; and fastening means for securing said cover member tosaid base member.

3. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mountingremote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a base memberincluding an open central portion and a surface adapted to engage theframing members of the wall and a second surface extended outwardly toconfront the edge of the finish of the wall; fastening means forsecuring said base member to the framing members: a cover member havinga centrally disposed grill means and overlying said base member, saidcover member including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finishof the wall beyond the junction of said second surface and the edge ofsaid finish; mounting means on one of said members for securing aspeaker thereto whereby said speaker extends through said open centralportion and confronts said grill means; and fastening means for securingsaid cover member to said base member.

4. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mountingremote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a base memberincluding an open central portion and a surface adapted to engage theframing members of the wall and a second surface extended outwardly toconfront the edge of the finish of the wall; fastening means forsecuring said base member to the framing members; a cover member havinga centrally disposed grill means and overlying said base member, saidcover member including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finishof the wall beyond the junction of said second surface and the edge ofsaid finish; mounting means on said cover member for securing a speakerthereto; and fastening means for securing said cover member to said basemember.

5. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mountingremote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a base memberincluding a surface adapted to engage the framing members of the walland a second surface extended outwardly to confront the edge of thefinish of the wall; fastening means for securing said base member to theframing members; a cover member overlying said base member, said covermember including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finish of thewall beyond the junction of said second surface and the edge of saidfinish; a pair of overlying flange means, one

on each of said members, disposed inwardly of said finish confrontingoutwardly extending surface; and means for securing said overlyingflange means together subsequent to the mounting of said base member tothe frame members and the application of the wall finish thereto.

6. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel ap paratus for mountingremote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a base memberincluding a surface adapted to engage the framing members of the walland a second surface extended outwardly to confront the edge of thefinish of the wall; fastening means for securing said base member to theframing members; a cover member overlying said base member, said covermember including a shoulder portion adapted to engage the finish of thewall beyond the junction of said second surface and the edge of saidfinish; a pair of overlying flange means, one on each of said members,disposed inwardly of said finish confronting outwardly extendingsurface; and a threaded element extended through the outer of saidoverlying flange means and secured to the inner of said overlying flangemeans.

7. In a built-in sound system for homes, a novel apparatus for mountingremote speakers in walls, comprising, in combination, a flanged memberhaving an open central portion surrounded by a border portion; a flangeon said border portion adapted to lie along the wall framing members;means for securing said member to said framing members; a second flangeon said border portion extending substantially parallel to the directionof extension of said first flange; a connecting portion on said borderportion extending outwardly from said first flange, and connecting saidsecond flange; a second member adapted to overlie said first member,said second member including a flange disposed around the peripherythereof and extended to engage the finish of the wall outwardly of saidsecond flange; and means for securing said second member to said firstmember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,091,011 Phelps et a1 Aug. 24, 1937 2,115,098 Engholm Apr. 26, 19382,282,384 Schenck May 12, 1942

